ACC to honor principal, long-time volunteer

May 25, 2004

Principal Kevin McGuire

This year, the Arlington Civic Council will honor Arlington Middle School Principal Kevin McGuire as their Person of the Year and present Community Service Awards to Laverne Dixon and Domino's Pizza at the ACC's annual awards dinner on June 7.

Principal McGuire has gone the extra mile, working evenings and weekends to help the students at Arlington Middle School reach educational excellence. The STEPS program he piloted in the middle school has received acclaim for helping students reach proficiency on the state required PSSA pre-tests.

As a facilitator and administrator, he has brought the teachers, reading coaches and students together in an effort to see everyone succeed. Additionally, he has supported community projects from writing contests to a recent clean up around the Henry Kaufmann Center with students.

McGuire began his teaching career at Saint George Elementary School. Following his receiving a Masters Degree from the University of Pittsburgh, he became director for non-profit youth agencies on the Northside of Pittsburgh.

His career path then led him to the New Kensington/Arnold school district where he served as a principal. Four years later, he first served as a principal in the Pittsburgh Public Schools.

Dixon, a long-time member of the ACC, has been an active volunteer in Arlington since 1965. She was, in fact, part of the group that would later become the Arlington Civic Council.

Dixon has served as the organization's treasurer, chair of the Schools Committee that fought alongside Neighborhood Legal Services to sue the Pittsburgh Public Schools to insure all students would receive bus passes to get to and from South High School. She has also helped with the Boy Scouts, Saint Henry's School PTA and Foodshare at Bishop Leonard.

Currently, she is treasurer of Arlington Meals on Wheels and pitches in when ever she is needed in the kitchen or for deliveries. She is also a representative for the Henry Kaufmann Center Allentown Senior Center and volunteers for many tasks that make the Arlington Civic Council the organization it is today.

Laverne Dixon

The council will also present a second Community Service Award to the South Side Domino's Pizza. Domino's has been a good neighbor to the organization, most recently having provided the pizza for the Arlington Civic Council's bingo and the Walk for the Cure on Mother's Day. Other organizations they have helped include the Carnegie Library and Urban Youth of America.

The Arlington Civic Council's Awards Dinner will take place on Monday, June 7 at the Henry Kaufmann Center, corner of Salisbury and Fernleaf streets. This year's dinner will feature a Hawaiian Luau with diners having a choice of chicken or pork dishes.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call Bobbie Stiefvater at 412-481-5562. Deadline for making reservations is June 2.